Toms River Stabbing Incident: Victims Identified and Details Unveiled

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Toms River Stabbing Incident: Victims Identified and Details Unveiled

5/11/25- In connection with Friday's deadly stabbing of one guy and the stabbing and wounding of another man in Toms River, a Jackson Township man has been charged with murder.

According to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, Steven I. McNeill, 32, of Jackson, has been charged with murder, attempted murder, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, being a specific person not to possess a weapon, and eluding.

According to Billhimer, McNeill is charged with stabbing and wounding Roderick Seward, 30, of Toms River, as well as killing Raniek Mendez, 34, of Brick Township.

The stabbings, according to the authorities, took place at a house located at 3104 Adams Avenue after two arguments.

At approximately 7:20 a.m. on Friday, Toms River police received a 911 call regarding a fight at the residence. An off-duty Seaside Park Class II police officer was exiting the adjacent Quick Chek when he made the 911 call, according to Billhimer.

After being transferred to the Community Medical Center in Toms River, where he eventually passed away from his wounds, Toms River police discovered Mendez with a knife wound to his chest, according to Billhimer.

A family member had brought Seward to Brick's Ocean University Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening wounds.

According to him, detectives discovered that the 7:20 a.m. 911 call was the second to reach the house on Friday morning. After receiving a 911 call at approximately 5:50 a.m., Toms River police discovered that McNeill and Seward had gotten into a fight at the residence. According to Billhimer, McNeill left the house at that moment, and the police departed as well.

Detectives were able to identify a car that had fled the stabbing scene and discovered it in Jackson. The motorist, who was later identified as McNeill, eventually pulled over when police attempted to stop it, and McNeill was taken into custody, he added.

McNeill was charged with the stabbings and brought to the Ocean County Jail when authorities found him to be the culprit. According to Billhimer, he is being detained there while a detention hearing is convened.

Detectives found an unidentified quantity of cocaine and Seward's rucksack during a search at the Adams Avenue residence, he said. According to Billhimer, Seward has been charged with both possessing cocaine and possessing less than half an ounce of cocaine with the intent to distribute. The charges are pending further court appearances and were filed as summonses.

“I would add that we have recovered a shell casing from the scene and have a witness report of hearing a single gunshot, but we have not recovered a weapon at this point in time. This investigation remains active and ongoing,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated.

Prosecutor Billhimer commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Toms River Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, for their collaborative efforts in connection with this investigation leading to McNeill’s swift apprehension.

The charges referenced above are merely accusations and the press and public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. R.P.C. 3.6(b)(6).